Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-04-16

again she went to Boulder, to the little
school room, the children, the Dutch cook
ing and. her duty. She had altogether had
a pleasant time, left the greater part OF
her slender salary with her mother, had
enjoyed several small social events at Dry
gulch in Blake's company, received from
him a writing desk filled with stationery
which when she declined at first to re-
ceive, he %laughingly assured her was but
a t1ifie, and had it rolled up in a package
Of goods she had bought at Boyds.
1t was a splendid afternoon in August
when Allie sat near the upstairs window
of Mrs. Axis boarding house, reading
| Longfellow's Miles Standish. The SUI
streamed through the open window upon
| her as she sat sidewise to it. Coming up
the road on horseback was a man whose
eyes once turned upon the framed picture
could not revert from them. Allie, though
intent upon the rythmical lines, became
impressed that she was the subject of a
close scrutiny. 1t was one Of those uneI-
plainable experiences for which she could
give no reason, but irresistably her head
was turned to the road and there she rec
ognized the fact that her impression was
right and that Allan Blake was looking
straight at her. Longfellow now had no
further charms for her, at least for the
present, as she rather hastily descended to
the porch to greet the visitor. They shook
hands with old fashioned heartiness and
without any preliminary excuses, ques-
toned and answered with the familiarity
of old acquaintance. The subject turned
upon books ard elected from Allie that
she had been reading about the Puritan
Captain as Allan had ridden up to the
house. Upon his suggestion she flew up
stairs and returned quickly with the book,
and handing It to him said, won't you
please read something's"
Allan consented, and asked her where
she had ceased reading:
"Oh,' she said, 81 was just skimming
over it at random"
Allan opened the volume and commenc-
ing at the first line read Of "the old colony
days in Plymouth, the land of the Pill
grims.'' Allan Blake's reading was 40
sing song repetition of Words,no meaning
less monotone, but reading in its true
sense. He emphasized, needed the punct-
uation, raised and lowered the tone Of his
musical voice so that his hearer had eyes
but for him and ears but for the words he
read. 1t seemed to her that Allan Blake
was the original teller of the quaint tale,
and her sympathies beat in unison with
he incidents of the story. Under the iniu-
ence, of his portrayal the shabbylittle par1of
became Miles %Standish's quarters at Plym-
outh. Her Imagination drew the picture
of the Puritan hero. She heard the scratch
ing quill Of John Alden sing Priscilla.
Never did she so recognize the truth of,
'If you would be well served, you must
serve yourself"
Throughout the whole reading she was
entranced, and discerned beauties in the
poem that years of silent reading could
never have shown her. Blake's visit on
tinued till next day at noon, and when
they said good bye" each was conscious
that a feeling stronger than friendship lad
grown in them. On Monday morning
Allie resumed her teaching, and though
she was not neglectful, she discovered
that her mind would often wander from
her duties to the afternoon reading Of
Miles Standish.